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sonny
Dodge Dakota
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12/13/2001
20:36:53

Subject: BALL JOINTS
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MY 95 DAKOTA W/107000 MILES NEEDS BALL JOINTS I WAS TOLD BY SEARS WHEN I REPLACED THE TIRES AND HAD THEM DO AN ALIGNMENT. MY QUESTION IS HOW MUCH DO THE PARTS COST FOR THE BALL JOINTS THEMSELVES, AND WHAT IS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME NECESSARY TO REPLACE THEM, FOR A COST PERSPECTIVE



Steph
Dodge Dakota


12/14/2001
03:29:57

RE: BALL JOINTS
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Dude, if you need both uppers and lowers it's gonna cost you some coin. Approx. $50.00 to $80.00 per joint depending on the brand. At least a couple hours labor and a wheel alignment when it's done. If the roads You drive on are anything like the ones I drive on (very rough), You should go with the more costly life time warranty parts, It's worth it in the long run. Good luck. Peace.



Eppa Wimbish
Dodge Dakota
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1/15/2003
11:48:40

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I just had my '01 stock Dakota inspected, and the upper right ball joint has 1/2" of play, at 28K miles. The inspector said he just rejected an '01 Dakota with 38K miles due to "seriously worn" ball joints! Repairs for it cost nearly $1,000, but cost the owner about $100 out of pocket after a lot of complaining........

Don't tell me I've got a Turkey!!



The Dude
Dodge Dakota
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1/15/2003
14:44:08

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I get a popping noise from my right front suspension area while turning sometimes. Other guys on this board said it was the ball joints and that it's pretty common for this to happen. I have an '02 QC with ~7,000 miles.



chris
Dodge Dakota
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1/15/2003
17:50:49

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I too drive an 02 quad cab. I have 16k miles and get the popping.



Silver02QC
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2003
19:42:25

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I have an 02 QC and had the same problems you guys are talking about with the popping ball joints. I had the dealer take a look at it and of course... it was all within specs. I had to drag the shop foreman out and drive him around where it happens every morning. Sure enough... it popped and we went back to the shop to fix it. The problem turned out to be the upper ball joint and the wheel stop. Both were replaced and the noise and popping has gone away.



B Mac
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2003
20:33:09

RE: BALL JOINTS
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Get MOOG -> lifetime warranty ;)

Also check the upper control arms on the passenger side on 2wd models. They are extremely close to the exhaust manifold and disintegrate.
DON'T let the dealer talk you into $370 control arms. Get the $18 rubbers or get Energy Suspensions ones but you have to use your old metal sleeves.

BMac



Vince
Dodge Dakota
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1/25/2003
15:22:00

RE: BALL JOINTS
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My 03 V8 QC has the same ball joint problem...6500 miles



Terri
Dodge Dakota
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10/02/2003
12:47:38

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I also have ball joint problems on my Dodge Dakota 2001. Looks like many have had problems so maybe yous can tell me where you went to get the replacement parts??? I have been trying to locate and can find nothing here in Arizona except through dealer which prices are outrageous. Like $136.00 per joint. And don't even want to know what they charge for labor. Yikes guess you have to have some major coin to drive a Dodge Dakota. HELP???!!!!



madmax93
Dodge Dakota
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10/03/2003
22:30:16

RE: BALL JOINTS
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i have a 97 4x4 dak 72,000. i bought my moogs
(lower) at rock.com (cheap). borrowed a
ball joint press from auto zone, and did it
in 4 hrs. piece of cake. the auto shop
wanted 400.00 (yeah right!)



ALLEN
Dodge Dakota
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10/21/2003
09:52:30

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I have a 2001 with bad ball joints on both sides. I would recommend that everyone having these problems file a complaint on the National Traffic Highway Safety Admin. website http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ . I think very few people having this problem are actually even being reflected.



allen
Dodge Dakota
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10/21/2003
19:45:23

RE: BALL JOINTS
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hey just talked to my auto parts guy yesterday and SPICER has released the lower ball joints for 2001 . he had too do a lot of calling to find this out i should have a set in a week so go find a smart friendly parts store that carries SPICER and have them do some calling to find them, or wait for moog to come out on NOV. 1



Tim
Dodge Dakota
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10/30/2003
17:02:35

RE: BALL JOINTS
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Had mine checked yesterday on my 2000 QC.Both upper ball joints need replacement. I took it to the dealer at 34K, and they said everything is fine. Now I have 46K. Looking at $620.00.



Gerry
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2003
16:54:05

RE: BALL JOINTS
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Anyone had problems in a '98 Dakota? I have 50K
on mine, and as of yet have not seen any such troubles. Like to know if I should expect such on the '98.



VeryBigBear
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2003
19:24:27

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I had bad ball joints when I bought my '97 SLT at 76K. Dealer (AutoNation) told me to go jump in the lake.

I'm not a DIYer, so it cost me about $600 after all was said and done.

I've also had 9 alignments, replaced stabilizer and Pittman arms, two sets of shocks and worn tires. Believe it or not, front end is good now - solid as a rock, holds a line. I get weird rotor wear on the front left side, that's about it.

I think the guy who own the truck before me beat the stuffing out of it.



Marc
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2003
22:28:13

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I had a popping noise in the front end of my Dakota R/T at about 25,000 miles. It would pop when I turned quickly at low speed. The dealer gave me the run around so I torqued every bolt in the front end and frame and found it was my right wheel bearing that had a slight bit of play. I think they are supposed to be torqued to 160 ft. lbs. I adjustd it(was hardly enough to notice) and it corrected my problem.
After all this ball joint dilemma surfaced I checked mine and at 41,000+ they are as tight as new.



Vic
Dodge Dakota
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11/03/2003
23:08:16

RE: BALL JOINTS
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You have all heard by now about the lawsuit that is being filed on behalf of the Durango owners. If you would like to write or contact the attorneys that are handling the case and request that they include all Dodge Dakota owners to join in the suit since all Daks have the same front end, here is their address:

http://www.ademilaw.com/cases/consumer-join.php

Write up your story about your problems with your UPPER ball joints, and send it to them. It they get enough requests and stories they might include you and help you obtain satisfaction from DC for you.



DSW
Dodge Dakota
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11/04/2003
20:21:15

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I got ball joints for my 2000 CC from NAPA, they were listed for a 99 Dak but were the same thing. The bolts that came with the ball joints were 5/16" way too small for my tastes. I think the bolt holes in the balljoints were between 3/8" and 7/16", metric something or another. I bought a new 7/16 drill bit and chased the bolt holes and the control arm holes, then installed 7/16 grade 8 bolts. Worked like a charm and haven't had a problem for 40K miles.

I have seen the MOOG ball joints and think the NAPA ball joints are better since the NAPA ball joints have a better seal. NAPA uses a nice silicone seal (like OEM) that locks around the ball joint, MOOG uses an old style seal that just sits on the ball joint. Could allow dirt and water to enter the ball joint since there isn't a positive seal to the ball joint.



shane bigler
Dodge Dakota
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11/05/2003
22:41:10

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I cant believe there are so many posts on this topic. This is total BS that Dodge cant manufacture a damn ball joint. I would much rather drive an import than deal with this Sh%t.
I had to change my ball joints just this year. So did a friend of mine in his Ram. I did the work myself since I didnt have a warrentee and it was a second hand vehicle.



Matt
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
07:52:06

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I had a 01 Dakota that had a problem with the upper ball joints and it caused my truck to lock up in the front end and i went off the road the truck only had 13,000 miles. Even my mechanic said it was the ball joints that caused it to wreck. Dodge did not want to pay to fix the problem.



Rolanda
Dodge Dakota
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11/06/2003
19:35:31

RE: BALL JOINTS
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I spent my wednesday replaceing upper and lower ball-joints with Moog K7241 and K7242,Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.I grinded down the stock rivits then knocked the out,I had to get Grade 8 bolts tho,It took the day to do it and I did strip one of the bolts to my brake cal
It drives very smooth now!!!!



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